IS QUEEN WILHELMINA HAPPPY?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2097, 25 January 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

IS QUEEN WILHELMINA HAPPPY?

Holland, -according to a writer in nn American newspaper, is torn by internal strife, of which, Hie world in general knows nothing. 'The Dutch are ready almost lor war among themselves, ready to explode in a. rage extremely foreign to their usual stolid, emotionless demeanour, and all over one question. The question Unit Inis -rent Holland, caused hitler feeling, even divided families, is a simple one: “Is Queen Wilhelmina happy?”

mina- happy?” . The American tourist or Engl-:, h visitor who enters Holland would best not mention the subject. To inquire whether or not flip queen is happy is an offence, and to state a belief t-luit she is unhappy is to invite sharp censure or even personal attack. Largo numbers of the Dutch incline to the belief that- their queen is unhappy, but only a small proportion of them dure utter this belief. For tlio loyal Dutch are tlio mast ardent admirers of tliei.r gu. queen, and even though- a brother or cousin hint that the queen is unhappy they resent it even to tlio extent of violence. Not long ago an English visitor in Rotterdam dared to remark casually that lie “pitied the poor, unhappy queen," whereupon a -largo Dutchman, who -appeared as emotionless as tlio barrel of kraut against winch ho was sitting, rose up and l -smote the Englishman, and when in Court tlio Englishman recited his story his assailant was dismissed and he received a severe lecture. All over Holland the bitterness i,s the same. One may not hint even that the uuoen is unhappy in her marriage, much loss say* it. To speak tlio thought means perhaps disruption of tlie family circle, and fijr an outsider to speak of it invites. trouble. No true Dutchman even will discuss the question of tlio happiness of the queen. It is not wise to gossip about her, nor will ho permit outsiders to do so. The question of the queen’s happiness is a forbidden one—and. no one ran get -any light on the subject except through circumstances. -Whether the queen is happy or not- is .-a problem for the diplomats, and little can they learn from the calm, unruffled actions of the queen herself. If she is happy she “ives no sign. Neither does she give any sign of unhappiness.

Wilhelmina sees but little of her husband. He never helps her with the heavy work connected with being queen, -and seldom is seen in public with her. They breakfast separ-iD ! v. lunch separately, and generally dine separately, the prince consort, however ,always- accompanying her on st-ito occasions Whether these things indicate that’ she is unhappy or not only adds mystery to the vexatious question. The little queen lives more sipiply than the American woman of the wealthy classes, and, indeed, almost- as simply as tlio ordinary housewife.